Police: Repo man dragged car owner down driveway

CHULAHOMA -- A tow truck driver from Horn Lake was held on $200,000 bond Sunday after allegedly dragging a man 85 feet down a gravel driveway while repossessing a car in Marshall County.

James Charles Smith, 31, remained in jail Sunday, three days after he was arrested on a charge of felony assault against Lee Vie Cox of the Chulahoma area, authorities said.

Smith went to Cox''s home about 3 a.m. Thursday to repossess a 1992 Cadillac Deville, Sheriff Kenny Dickerson told The Commercial Appeal. Investigators said Cox ran after the truck to try to stop the repossession, fell, and was dragged under his car.

The tow truck didn''t stop, and Cox''s family found him later in the driveway, Dickerson said.

Cox suffered head injuries, a broken arm and shoulder and several other injuries, the newspaper said.

Staffers at Regional Medical Center in Memphis did not immediately return a call asking for an update on his condition Sunday.

Deputies at the jail Sunday did not know whether Smith has an attorney.

"We''ve had incidents with repo people before, but never where someone has been injured," said sheriff''s Maj. Kelly McMillen, one of the investigators.

Marshall County authorities would not say whether Smith was a private tow truck driver or for which wrecking company or repossession company he took the car.